Selfie camera

ABSTRACT

Disclosed embodiments include a selfie camera system for capturing selfie content and sharing captured content on a social media and/or a video streaming platform. In various embodiments, selfie camera makes capturing higher quality selfie content more efficient by providing a preview of the selfie content before and after capture. One or more aspects of previews may be modified to simulate content displayed on a social media and/or video streaming platform. The selfie camera may be easily attached to any surface using one or more mounting mechanisms to allow the selfie camera for function as a personal, private photographer than can capture any scene from a variety of perspectives using a variety of capture sequences.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a Continuation of and claims priority to U.S. Ser.No. 16/922,979 filed 7 Jul. 2020 which in turn claims priority from U.S.Provisional 62/956,054 filed 31 Dec. 2019 and U.S. Provisional62/871,158 filed 7 Jul. 2019, the entirety of which are both herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to cameras and imageprocessing, in particular, systems and methods for capturing and sharingselfie content.

BACKGROUND

Every day people take millions of self-portrait or “selfie” photos. Manyof these photos are uploaded to social media platforms and shared asposts that provide updates about the selfie subject to a network offollowers. Taking a good selfie is hard and a lot of time is wasted inre-taking photos to get the pose, angle, lighting, background, and othercharacteristics just right. There is therefore a need to develop acamera system that reduces the number of takes and overall amount oftime required to produce a good selfie.

Taking a group selfie is also difficult and one or more people posingfor a group photo are frequently cut off or left out of the shot. Itwould be desirable to have a camera system that allows for easy captureof group selfies that included everyone in a group.

Post capture, uploading selfies to social media platforms is frustratingand time consuming. Manually transferring photos from one device toanother and, once on the proper device, from one platform to anotheradds time and complexity to social media posting. Transfers betweendevices and platforms and also introduce additional editing time andresult in data loss (e.g., accidentally deleted phots, resolution loss,etc.). There is therefore a need to develop a camera system that reducesthe overall time needed to post selfies and other items of content tosocial media platforms.

Previous attempts have been made to solve problems with capturing selfiecontent, but the arm capture method (i.e., pointing a smartphone cameraat one's self and extending the camera away from the face/body toincrease the field of view) is still the most commonly used technique.Although highly visible, selfie sticks provide only a marginally longerarm, therefore, maintain the limited capture angle and restricted fieldof view problems associated with arm capture. Remote timer and tripodsystems have also been adapted to smartphones to take selfies but theytake a long time to setup and do not provide an efficient way to previewphotos before capture. Behavioral adaptions including mirror selfies andasking strangers to take photos have also been adopted but thesesolutions restrict the conditions in which selfies can be captured. Noselfie specific camera solutions have been explored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objectives, features, and advantages of the disclosed subjectmatter can be more fully appreciated with reference to the followingdetailed description of the disclosed subject matter when considered inconnection with the following drawings, in which like reference numeralsidentify like elements.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary system for capturing and sharing selfiecontent including selfie images;

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary system for capturing and sharing selfiecontent including selfie videos;

FIG. 3 illustrate more details of portions of the systems shown in FIGS.1-2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary camera device used to capture selfiecontent;

FIG. 5A-M illustrate exemplary preview screens for previewing selfiecontent;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary electro adhesion system for mounting acamera device shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7A-B illustrate a selfie camera mounted to a foreign object usingthe exemplary electro adhesion system shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A-D illustrates an example mechanical mounting system for mountinga camera device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for capturingselfie content using the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary process for streamingselfie content using the system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an illustrative user device that may beused to implement the system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an illustrative server device that may beused to implement the system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the camera device shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating more details of portions of thecamera device shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the terms “share”, “shared”, and “sharing” refer to thedigital distribution of selfie content including images, recorded video,and live video. Selfie content may be shared using a user device (e.g.,personal computer, laptop, camera, smart phone, tablet, etc.) directlyto another user device. Additionally, selfie content may be shared withan online community (e.g., social media network, public online audience,group of online friends, etc.) by uploading to a host website or postingto a social media platform.

As used herein, the terms “subject” and “subjects” refer to the people,objects, landscapes, and/or background elements included in a photo orvideo. Human subjects may include a single person, multiple people, agroup of people, multiple groups of people, and/or one or more crowds ofpeople. Object subjects may include one or more pets, items and/orplates of food, one or more items of clothing, and/or any number ofthings or other objects.

As used herein, the terms “user device” and “user devices” refer to anycomputer device having a processor, memory, and a display. Exemplaryuser devices can include a communications component for connecting to aselfie camera and may include smartphones, tablet computers, laptops,mobile computers, hand held computers, personal computers, and the like.

As used herein, the terms “selfie image” and “selfie images” refer toimages and videos of a person taken by that person. Portrait and/orself-portrait type images of objects (e.g., food, clothing, tools,jewelry, vehicles, memorabilia, personal items, and the like) and/orgroups of people are also included in the terms “selfie image” and“selfie images” as disclosed herein.

As used herein the terms “piece of content” and “pieces of content”refer to images, video, and other content capable of capture by a selfiecamera of the disclosure. Selfie images are exemplary pieces of content.Pieces of content may be transferred as data files including image data,audiovisual data, and the like using file/data lossless transferprotocols such as HTTP, HTTPS or FTP.

Exemplary Embodiments of the System

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate exemplary systems for capturing and sharing piecesof content including selfie images and videos. These systems may, forexample, reduce the number of re-takes and overall time required tocapture and share pieces of content including selfie images and videos.FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a selfie image system 100that may capture and share pieces of content including selfie images.The selfie image system 100 may include a selfie camera 102 thatcaptures pieces of content including a subject 110. The selfie camera102 may be communicatively coupled to a user device 104 using one ormore connections 114 (e.g., a Bluetooth, Wifi, or other wireless orwired connection). The selfie camera 102 may stream a preview 108 of thearea within the field of the view of the selfie camera 102 to a userdevice 104. Using the user device 104 as a remote control, a user maycapture a piece of content using the selfie camera 102. In variousembodiments, the preview 108 may include a live video showing thesubject 110 and surrounding area captured by the image sensor of theselfie camera 102. A user may view the preview 108 to assist the captureprocess by verifying the subject 110 appears as the user would likebefore deciding to initiate capture. When the subject 110 appearsexactly how the user would like in the preview 108, the user may capturea selfie image or other piece of content using the selfie camera 102 byremotely activating the selfie camera 102 using the user device 104. Thepreview 108 of the captured image is then sent by the selfie camera 102to a user device 104 and displayed on a user device display. If the useris happy with how the selfie image or other piece of content turned out,the user may share the selfie image or other piece of content to asocial media platform 112. If the user desires to capture another pieceof content including the subject 110, the first piece of content may besaved on the user device 104 or discarded and the preview 108 changedfrom displaying a captured piece of content back to displaying a livevideo of the subject 110 and surrounding area.

The user device 104 may be a processor based device with memory, adisplay, and wired or wireless connectivity circuits that allow a userdevice 104 to communicate with the selfie camera 102 and/or the socialmedia platform 112 and interact/exchange data with the selfie camera 102and/or the social media platform 112 using a communications path 116.For example, the user device 104 may communicate a message to selfiecamera 102 to capture a piece of content and receive a data fileincluding the piece of content in response from the selfie camera 102.The image file may be displayed on a user device display as a preview108. The user device may be a smartphone device, such as an Apple iPhoneproduct or an Android OS based system, a personal computer, a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a terminal device, and the like. The userdevice 104 may have an application (e.g., a web app or a mobile app)that is executed by the processor of the user device 104 that maydisplay visual information to a user including the preview 108 beforeand/or after image capture and a user interface for editing and/orsharing selfie content. One example user interface is shown below inFIGS. 5A-5M. The communications path 116 may include one or more wiredor wireless networks/systems that allow the user device 104 tocommunicate with a social media platform 112 using a known data andtransfer protocol. The social media platform may be any known socialmedia application including Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram,Wechat, Line, and the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a selfie video 200 systemthat may capture and share pieces of content including videos. Tocapture selfie videos and other pieces of content the selfie camera 102connects to a user device 104 using one or more connections 114 (e.g., aBluetooth, Wifi, or other wireless or wired connection). Once connectedto the selfie camera 102 a user device 104 may receive a live videopreview 108 of a subject 110 from the selfie camera and display thepreview 108 on a user device display. The preview 108 may show thesubject 110 and the area surrounding the subject 110 as captured by theimage sensor in the selfie camera 102. Once the subject 110 appears asdesired in the preview 108, videos and other pieces of content capturedby the selfie camera 102 may be streamed to a video streaming platform202. Remote control functionality included in an application (e.g.,mobile app or web app) executed by the processor of the user device 104,may cause a selfie camera 102 to record and/or share selfie videos andother pieces of content on a video streaming platform 202. To share apiece of content on a video streaming platform, the selfie camera 102may connect to a video streaming platform 202 using a communicationspath 116. User account information, including account name and logininformation, may be received from a user device 104 as part of theconnection process. A user device connected to the selfie camera 102 maysimultaneously connect to a video steaming platform 202 using acommunications path 116. A direct communications path 116 between a userdevice 104 and a video streaming platform 202 and/or a selfie camera 102and a video streaming platform 202 gives users full control over theiruser device 104 when live streaming video and other pieces of content(i.e., “going live”) to a video streaming platform 202 because, in theselfie video system 200, the selfie camera 102 is the device streamingvideo and other pieces of content not the user device 104. Therefore,functionality of a user device 104 is not inhibited when a user livestreams pieces of content to a video streaming platform 202 using theselfie video 200 system.

A user device 104 may communicate with the selfie camera 102 and/orvideo streaming platform 202 and interact and/or exchange data with theselfie camera 102 and/or the video streaming platform 202. For example,the user device 104 may communicate one or more messages to a selfiecamera 102 to record and/or stream video and other pieces of content toa video streaming platform 202. In response, the selfie camera 102 maysend a message (e.g., a push notification) to the user device 104indicating a live video stream has started. A user device 104 connectedto the video streaming platform 202 will then be able to view the livevideo stream provided by the selfie camera 102 on a user device display.The user device 104 may have an application (e.g., a web app or a mobileapp) that is executed by the processor of the user device 104 that maydisplay visual information to a user including a preview 108 beforeand/or after video recording and a user interface for streaming,editing, and/or sharing selfie content. The communications path 116 mayinclude one or more wired or wireless networks/systems that allow a userdevice 104 and/or a selfie camera 102 to communicate with a videostreaming platform 202 using a known data and transfer protocol. Thevideo streaming platform 202 may include one or more video streamingservers for receiving videos and other pieces of content from a selfiecamera 102 and a plurality video streaming clients for distributingvideos and other pieces of content from the video streaming server. Tofacilitate sharing live video content, one or more communications paths116 and/or video streaming platforms 202 may include a contentdistribution network for distributing video content from one or morevideo streaming servers to a plurality of video streaming clients. Thevideo streaming platform 202 may be any known video streamingapplication including Twitch, TikTok, Houseparty, Youtube, Facebook,Snapchat, Instagram, Wechat, Line, and the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates more details of the systems shown in FIGS. 1-2 andspecifically more details of the user device 104 and a server device 320that may be incorporated into at least one of the social media platform112 and/or the video streaming platform 202. The components shown inFIG. 3 provide the functionality delivered by the hardware devices shownin FIGS. 1-2. As used herein, the term “component” may be understood torefer to computer executable software, firmware, hardware, and/orvarious combinations thereof. It is noted that where a component is asoftware and/or firmware component, the component is configured toaffect the hardware elements of an associated system. It is furthernoted that the components shown and described herein are intended asexamples. The components may be combined, integrated, separated, orduplicated to support various applications. Also, a function describedherein as being performed at a particular component may be performed atone or more other components and by one or more other devices instead ofor in addition to the function performed at the particular component.Further, the components may be implemented across multiple devices orother components local or remote to one another. Additionally, thecomponents may be moved from one device and added to another device ormay be included in both devices.

As shown in FIG. 3, a user device 104 may be communicatively coupled toa selfie camera and specifically receive pieces of content (e.g., datafiles including image data, audiovisual data, and the like) and send andreceive messages. Pieces of content received from the selfie camera 102may be stored in an image data store 306 included in a user device 104.The image data store 306 may store data files including pieces ofcontent in various ways including, for example, as a flat file, indexedfile, hierarchical database, relational database, unstructured database,graph database, object database, and/or any other storage mechanism. Theimage data store 306 may be implemented as a portion of the user device104 hard drive or flash memory (e.g., NAND flash memory in the form ofeMMCs, universal flash storage (UFS), SSDs etc.). To capture and processpieces of content, a user device 104 may include a selfie generator 308.In various embodiments, the selfie generator 308 may be implemented as astand-alone mobile app installed on a user device, a stand-alone web appaccessible by a web browser application, and/or as a plug-in or otherextension of another mobile app installed on a user device (e.g., anaïve camera app, photo app, photo editing app, and the like) or web appaccessible through a web browser. The selfie generator 308 may becommunicatively coupled to a selfie camera 102 and a plurality of otherapps (316 a, 316 b, 316 c, etc.) that are executed by a processor of auser device 104.

In various embodiments, the selfie generator 308 includes a selfiecamera controller 310, preview logic 312, and a streaming engine 314.The selfie camera controller 310 may send and receive messages and otherdata from the selfie camera to control camera functionality. Forexample, the selfie camera controller 310 may receive a message from aselfie camera 102 indicating with selfie camera 102 is powered on andlocated close enough to the user device 104 to establish a connection.In response, the selfie camera controller 310 may send a messagecontaining a connection request to establish a communication path with aselfie camera 102. The selfie camera controller 310 may send messagesincluding commands for adjusting one or more camera settings (e.g.,zoom, flash, aperture, aspect ratio, contrast, etc.) of the selfiecamera 102. The selfie camera controller 310 may send messages includingcommands causing the selfie camera 102 to record video, stream video,and/or capture images. The selfie camera 102 executes the commands andthen distributes captured pieces of content to an image data store 306.In various embodiments, the selfie camera controller 310 by execute oneor more capture routines for controlling capture of selfie images,selfie videos, and other pieces of content by the selfie camera 102.Capture routines may cause the selfie camera 102 and/or user device 104to provide a visual or auditory countdown signaling when capture isabout to take place. For example, a capture routine may include a 3 to10 second countdown that incorporates displaying a countdown sequence ofnumbers (one number per second) on a user device display. The countdownmay also include an audio component that audibly counts backward from,for example, 10 to 1. The audio component may be in sync with the userdevice display so that when the number displayed on the user de-vicedisplay is counted in the audio component. At the conclusion of thecountdown, the selfie camera controller 310 may initiate capture of oneor more pieces of content. One or more delays can be included in acapture routine to provide additional time to between competing thecountdown and initiating capture of one or more pieces of content.Capture routines executed by the selfie camera controller 310 maycapture a sequence of, for example, 2 to 5 photos with each capturedphoto displayed in a preview shown on a user device display.

In various embodiments, when executing a command to stream video and/orother pieces of content, the selfie camera 102 may initiate a connectionwith a sever device 320 (e.g., a streaming platform server) of a videostreaming platform. Once connected to a server device 320 the selfiecamera 102 may stream selfie videos and other pieces of content to theserver device 320 for distribution to a plurality of streaming platformclients. In various embodiments, the selfie camera 102 may also providevideo and other pieces of content for streaming to an image data store306. The streaming engine 314 may retrieve video and other pieces ofcontent for streaming from the image data store 306 and transfer thevideo and other pieces of content for streaming to a content API 322using file/data lossless transfer protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS or FTP.Video and other pieces of content for streaming may then be provided toa content distribution module 326 for distribution to a plurality ofclients through a livestream API 328 and/or stored a selfie contentdatabase 324. In various embodiments a content distribution module 326and/or a livestream API 328 may include a media codec (e.g., audioand/or video codec) having functionality for encoding video and audioand other pieces of content received from a selfie camera 102 and oruser device 104 into a format for streaming (e.g., an audio codingformat including MP3, Vorbis, AAC, Opus, and the like and/or a videocoding format including H.264, HEVC, VP8 or VP9) using a known streamingprotocol (e.g., real time streaming protocol (RTSP), real-time transportprotocol (RTP), real-time transport control protocol (RTCP), and thelike). The content distribution module 326 and/or livestream API 328 maythen assemble encoded video streams in a container bitstream (e.g., MP4,FLV, WebM, ASF, ISMA, and the like) that is provided by the livestreamAPI 328 to a plurality of streaming clients using a known transportprotocol (e.g., RTP, RTMP, Fits by Apple, Smooth Streaming by Microsoft,MPEG-DASH by Adobe, and the like) that supports adaptive bitratestreaming over HTTP or other known web data transfer protocol.

The selfie generator 308 may connect to one or more mobile or web apps316 b, 316 a executed by a processor of the user device. In variousembodiments, preview logic 312 may parse one or more GUIs included in amobile app and or web app to capture the size, resolution and othercharacteristics of pieces of content displayed on a social mediaplatform and/or video streaming platform. For example, preview logic 312may parse HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript, and the like elements rendered asweb app GUIs to extract characteristics (e.g., size, resolution, aspectratio, and the like) of pieces of content displayed in web appimplementations of social media platforms and/or video streamingplatforms. Preview logic 312 may extract characteristics of pieces ofcontent displayed in mobile app implementations of social mediaplatforms and/or video streaming platforms by parsing Swift, ObjectiveC, and the like elements (for iOS apps) and/or Java, C, C++, and thelike elements (for Android apps). To create a realistic preview of how apiece of content will look on a social media platform and/or videostreaming platform, preview logic 312 may include instructions formodifying images, videos, and other pieces of content received from theselfie camera to mirror the characteristics of images, videos, and otherpieces of content displayed on one or more social media platforms and/orvideo streaming platforms. For example, preview logic 312 may crop apiece of content to a size and/or aspect ratio that matches the sizeand/or aspect ratio of pieces of content displayed in a particular GUI(e.g., post GUI, content feed GUI, live stream GUI, and the like)included in a web app and/or mobile app implementation of a social mediaand/or video streaming platform. Preview logic 312 may also change theresolution of one or more pieces of content received from a selfiecamera to match the resolution of pieces of content displayed in aparticular GUI included in a web app and/or mobile app implementation ofa social media and/or video streaming platform.

Preview logic 312 can include functionality for configuring previewsprojected on a user device display to match the orientation of the userdevice display. For example, preview logic 312 may access a motionsensor (e.g., gyroscope, accelerometer, and the like) included in a userdevice 104 to determine the orientation of a user device display.Preview logic 312 may then crop the live video feed preview and/orcaptured piece of content received from the selfie camera 102 to fit theaspect ratio of the user device display at its current orientation.Preview logic 312 may dynamically crop the previews and/or capturedpiece of content from the selfie camera 102 to match the orientation ofthe user device display to dynamically change the aspect ratio of thepreviews and/or captured pieces of content, for example, from portraitto landscape when the user device display rotates from a portraitorientation to a landscape orientation. Post capture, preview logic 312may display pieces of content as full view content with no cropping,portrait content cropped to a portrait aspect ratio, landscape contentcropped to a landscape aspect ratio, and shared content cropped to matchone or more GUIs for sharing pieces of content included in a socialmedia and/or video streaming platform. In various embodiments, previewlogic 312 may incorporate one or more characteristics of pieces ofcontent extracted from a social media and/or video streaming platforminto portrait and/or landscape content. For example, preview logic 312may modify portrait content to simulate cropping that occurs whensharing one or more pieces of content on a content streaming GUI (e.g.,Snapchat snaps, Instagram stories, Facebook stories, and the like)included in a social media and/or video streaming platform. Previewlogic 312 may modify landscape content to simulate cropping that occurswhen sharing one or more wide angle pieces of content (e.g., a groupphoto/video captured in a landscape orientation) to a social mediaand/or video streaming platform. Full view content and/or pieces ofcontent modified by preview logic 312 into portrait content and/orlandscape content may be saved to the image data store 306 and/orprovided to a content API 322 of a server device 320 using as file/datalossless transfer protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS or FTP. Pieces ofcontent received by a content API 322 may be shared to a social mediaand/or video streaming platform through a posting API 330.

In various embodiments, preview logic 312 may include one or moreroutines for editing previews and captured pieces of content. Previewlogic 312 may edit captured video by segmenting recorded video and otherpieces of content into clips (i.e., 1 to 30 second segments). One ormore routines for editing video clips and other pieces of content mayalso be included in preview logic 312. In various embodiments, previewlogic 312 may edit video clips and other pieces of content using one ormore video editing filters. For example, preview logic 312 can includeediting filters that pan within a scene in any direction (e.g.,horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and the like); zoom in to and/or zoomout from one more areas of a scene; show movement within a scene in slowmotion; and sync one or more audio clips with playback of a video clip.Preview logic 312 may combine one or more editing filters to enable moreadvanced editing functionality. For example, preview logic 312 maycombine a slow motion editing filter with an audio sync editing filterto sync one or more audio clips with playback of a video clip having aslow motion effect to mask the ambient sound distortion that may occurwhen a slow motion editing filter is applied to a video clip havingaudio. In various embodiments, preview logic 312 may apply one or moreediting filters post capture by first defining a portion of a sceneincluded in a captured video or other piece of content to manipulatewith a editing filter. For example, defining a rectangle at the centerof the captured video. One or more editing filters may then be appliedto manipulate the aspects of a scene within the rectangle (e.g., zoom inon an object within the rectangle, pan from left to right across theobjects within the rectangle, and the like). In various embodiments,preview logic 312 may apply one or more stabilization and/or sharpeningfunctions to livestream video, recorded video, recorded video clips, andother pieces of content. For example, a stabilization function maysmooth out vibrations and other undesired movement included in recordedscenes and other pieces of content. A sharpening function may reduceblurring of moving objects captured in record scenes and other pieces ofcontent. In various embodiments, preview logic 312 can include one ormore background filters that may be applied to change the background ofpreviews or captured pieces of content. To change the background of apiece of content to one or more background filters, preview logic 312may include instructions for segmenting the background and foregroundaspects of a preview and/or captured piece of content. The backgroundelements of one or more captured pieces of content and/or live videopreviews may then by extracted and replaced with one or more backgroundfilters. Background filters may be actual photographs to simulate reallike settings and/or virtual scenes simulating virtual reality or mixedreality environments. Pieces of content modified according to one ormore editing functionalities of the preview logic 312 may be saved inthe image date store 306 and/or provided to a content API 322 of aserver device 320 using as file/data lossless transfer protocols such asHTTP, HTTPS or FTP. Pieces of content received by a content API 322 maybe shared to a social media and/or video streaming platform using aposting API 330.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example embodiment of a selfie camera 102. Theselfie camera 102 may include a housing 400 disposing a circuit boardincluding the electrical components (e.g., processor, control circuits,power source, image sensor, and the like) of the selfie camera 102. Thehousing 400 may be include an eye portion 402 extending laterally outfrom the surface of the housing. The eye portion 402 may dispose one ormore camera components (e.g., lens, image sensor, and the like). At oneend the eye portion 402 includes an opening 404 to allow light to passthrough the lens and reach the image sensor disposed inside the housing400 and/or eye portion 402. An LED light 406 may be embedded in anexterior surface of the housing 400 to provide additional light (i.e.,flash) to enable capture of selfie content in low light conditions. Moredetails about the components of the selfie camera 102 are described inFIGS. 13-14. One or more mounting systems may be attached to thebackside of the housing 400 opposite the eye portion 402. The mountingsystems may fix the selfie camera 102 to one or more foreign surfaces toposition the selfie camera 102 for capturing selfie content. Specificexemplary mounting systems are described below in FIGS. 6-8D.

FIGS. 5A-M illustrate exemplary preview GUIs rendered by the selfiegenerator. The preview GUIs display previews of selfie content beforeand after capture. Selfie content displayed in preview GUIs is providedto a user device from a selfie camera connected to the user device.Selfie content displayed in preview GUIs may be modified to simulate oneor more characteristics of selfie content shared on one or more socialmedial platforms and/or video streaming platforms. FIGS. 5A-B illustrateexemplary image preview GUIs for previewing image selfie contentprovided by a selfie camera. FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary live imagepreview GUI displaying a live video of a scene provided by a selfiecamera. The photo preview mode is clearly shown in the bottom portion ofthe image preview GUI. Inputting a capture command to the selfie cameracontroller that results in a captured image will render the exemplarycaptured image preview GUI shown in FIG. 5B on a user device display.From the captured image preview GUI, image selfie content received fromthe selfie camera may be deleted, saved to a user device image datastore, shared to a social media platform, shared through a messagingplatform, saved to a cloud storage instance, set as a wallpaper, and/orcopied to a user device clipboard. Any action taken on the image previewGUI may result in rendering the live image preview GUI on a user devicedisplay.

FIGS. 5C-E illustrate exemplary video preview GUIs for previewing videoselfie content provided by a selfie camera. FIG. 5C illustrates a livevideo preview GUI displaying live video of a scene provided by a selfiecamera. The video preview mode is clearly shown in the bottom portion ofthe video preview GUI. Inputting a record video and/or live stream videocommand to the selfie camera controller that results in a recordedand/or live streamed video will render the exemplary video recordingpreview GUI shown in FIG. 5D on a user device display. For live streamedvideo, the video recording preview GUI may show selfie video contentexactly it is shown on a live stream shared over a social media and/orvideo streaming platform. Inputting a stop recording command into thevideo recording preview GUI will display the exemplary captured videopreview GUI shown in FIG. 5E. From the captured video preview GUI, videoselfie content received from the selfie camera may be deleted, saved toa user device image data store, saved to a cloud storage device or otherremote data store, set as a wallpaper, shared to a social medial and/orvideo streaming platform, shared through a messaging platform, and/orcoped to a user device clipboard. Any action taken on the captured videopreview GUI may result in rendering the live video preview GUI on a userdevice display.

FIGS. 5F-G illustrate exemplary image sequence preview GUIs forpreviewing image selfie content provided by a selfie camera before andafter performing a capture sequence generated by the selfie cameracontroller. FIG. 5F illustrates an exemplary live image sequence previewGUI displaying a live video of a scene provide by a selfie camera. Thelive image sequence preview GUI shows the scene as it will be capturedby the selfie camera during execution of a capture sequence. Inputting acapture command to the selfie camera controller that results inperformance of a capture sequence will render the exemplary capturedimage sequence preview GUI shown in FIG. 5G. In various embodiments, thecaptured image sequence preview GUI may show the first image captured inthe capture sequence as a large preview taking up most of the GUI withall the images, in this example 5, captured in the image sequence shownas smaller previews in a bottom portion of the GUI. Selecting one of thesmaller previews may display the selected image in the large previewportion of the GUI. More than one photo may be selected in the smallerpreviews to enable users to take action on more than one photo capturedin the capture sequence. Confirming selection of one or more photos willrender a captured image sequence action GUI shown in FIG. 5H for eachconfirmed selected image. In various embodiments, the functionality ofthe captured image sequence action GUI is the same as the captured imagepreview GUI in FIG. 5B. When two or more images captured in the imagesequence are selected and confirmed taking action on the first photo inthe captured image preview GUI may render a captured image preview GUIfor the second photo and so on. If only one image captured in the imagesequence is selected and confirmed, taking action on the photo mayrender the live image sequence preview GUI.

FIGS. 5I-M illustrate exemplary content editing preview GUIs forpreviewing and editing captured selfie content. FIG. 5I illustrates anexemplary content editing live preview GUI displaying live video of ascene provided by a selfie camera. The content editing live preview GUIshows the scene as it will be captured by the selfie camera duringexecution of a capture command. Inputting a capture and/or video editcommand to the selfie camera controller resulting in capture of selfiecontent will render a define edit area GUI shown in FIG. 5J. In variousembodiments, the define edit area preview GUI may include a box definingan area within which one or more effects (e.g., zoom, pan, slow motion,and the like) may be added to edit selfie content. Inputting a captureand/or audio edit command into the selfie camera controller resulting incapture of selfie content will render a record audio edit GUI shown inFIG. 5K. In various embodiments, the record audio edit GUI may record anaudio clip that may be synced with selfie content. Recording an audioclip may result in rendering a recorded audio edit preview GUI shown inFIG. 5L. A preview of the recorded audio clip played over the audio ofcaptured selfie content may be displayed in the audio edit preview GUIas well as options for confirming the recorded audio clip for use incontent editing and/or recording a new audio clip. Selecting a recordnew audio clip may transition back to a record audio edit GUI.Confirming use of the record audio clip may transition to an editedcaptured content preview GUI shown in FIG. 5M. Selfie content includingvideo effects edits added in the define edit area GUI and/or audio editsadded in the record audio edit GUI may be previewed in the editedcaptured content preview GUI. From the edited captured content GUI,selfie content received from the selfie camera and/or edited by theselfie generator may be deleted, saved to a user device image datastore, saved to a cloud storage device or other remote data store, setas a wallpaper, shared to a social medial and/or video streamingplatform, shared through a messaging platform, and/or coped to a userdevice clipboard. Any action taken on the edited capture content GUI mayresult in rendering the content editing live preview GUI on a userdevice display.

FIGS. 6-8D illustrate exemplary mounting systems that may be used to fixa selfie camera to a foreign object. Mounting systems may be removablyattached and/or built into the back of the selfie camera to enable quickand secure attachment to a variety of surfaces. Attaching a selfiecamera using a mounting system s the perspective of scenes captured bythe selfie camera. FIGS. 6-7B pertain to electroadhesion mountingsystems and FIGS. 8A-D illustrate exemplary mechanical mounting systems.

FIG. 6 illustrates and electroadhesion device 600 that may be integratedwith and or otherwise attached to the selfie camera. In variousembodiments, the electroadhesion device 600 can be implemented as acompliant film comprising one or more electrodes 604 and an insulatingmaterial 602 between the electrodes 604 and a case and/or device (i.e.,the selfie camera). The electroadhesive film may include a chemicaladhesive applied to the insulating material 602 and/or electrodes 604 toallow the electroadhesion device 600 to be attached to a case and/ordevice. Additional attachment mechanisms used to secure theelectroadhesion device 600 to a case and/or device can include amechanical fastener, a heat fastener (e.g., welded, spot welded, orspot-melted location); dry adhesion; Velcro; suction/vacuum adhesion;magnetic or electromagnetic attachment or tape (e.g.: single- ordouble-sided). Depending on the degree or device portability desired orneeded for a given situation and the size of the electroadhesion device,the attachment mechanism may create a permanent, temporary, or evenremovable form of attachment.

The insulating material 602 may be comprised of several different layersof insulators. For purposes of illustration, the electroadhesion device600 is shown as having four electrodes in two pairs, although it will bereadily appreciated that more or fewer electrodes can be used in a givenelectroadhesion device 600. Where only a single electrode is used in agiven electroadhesion device 600, a complimentary electroadhesion device600 having at least one electrode of the opposite polarity is preferablyused therewith. With respect to size, electroadhesion device 600 issubstantially scale invariant. That is, electroadhesion device 600 sizesmay range from less than 1 square centimeter to greater than severalmeters in surface area. Even larger and smaller surface areas are alsopossible and may be sized to the needs of a given device.

In various embodiments, the electroadhesion device 600 may cover theentire rear surface of a device. One or more electrodes 604 may beconnected to a power supply 612 (e.g., battery, AC power supply, DC,power supply and the like) using one or more known electricalconnections 606. A power management integrated circuit 610 may managepower supply 612 output, regulate voltage, and control power supply 612changing functions. To create an electroadhesive force that providessufficient electroadhesive attraction to support a device, low voltagepower from a power supply 612 must be converted into high voltagecharges at the one or more electrodes 604 using a voltage converter 608.The high voltages on the one or more electrodes 604 form an electricfield that interacts with a foreign object and or other target surfacein contact with- and/or proximate to-the electroadhesion device 600. Theelectric field may locally polarize the target surface and/or induceelectric charges on the target surface that are opposite to the chargeon the one or more electrodes 604. The opposite charges on the one ormore electrodes 604 and the target surface attract to causeelectroadhesion between the electrodes 604 and the target surface. Theinduced charges may be the result of a dielectric polarization or fromweakly conductive materials and electrostatic induction of charge. Inthe event that the target surface comprises a material that is a strongconductor, such as copper for example, the induced charges maycompletely cancel the electric field. In this case, the internalelectric field is zero, but the induced charges nonetheless still formand provide electroadhesive force (i.e., Lorentz forces) to theelectroadhesion device 600.

Thus, the adjustable voltage applied to the one or more electrodes 604provides an overall electroadhesive force between the electroadhesiondevice 600 and the material of the foreign object and/or other targetsurface. The electroadhesive force holds the electroadhesion device 600on the target surface. The overall electroadhesive force may besufficient to overcome the gravitational pull on the electroadhesiondevice 600 and a consumer device or other object attached to theelectroadhesion device 600. Therefore, the electroadhesive force may beused to hold a consumer device mounted with the electroadhesion device600 aloft on the target surface. In various embodiments, a plurality ofelectroadhesion devices may be placed against target surface, such thatadditional electroadhesive forces against the target surface can beprovided. The combination of electroadhesive forces may be sufficient tolift, move, pick and place, mount, or secure a large object on thetarget surface.

Removal of the adjustable voltages from the one or more electrodes 604ceases the electroadhesive force between electroadhesion device 600 andthe target surface. Thus, when there is no adjustable voltage betweenthe one or more electrodes 104, the electroadhesion device 600 can movemore readily relative to the target surface. This condition allows theelectroadhesion device 600 to move before and after an adjustablevoltage is applied. Well controlled electrical activation andde-activation enables fast adhesion and detachment, such as responsetimes less than about 50 milliseconds, for example, while consumingrelatively small amounts of power.

Applying too much voltage to certain materials (e.g., metals and otherconductors) can cause sparks, fires, electric shocks, and other hazards.Applying too little voltage generates a weak electroadhesive force thatis not strong enough to securely attach the electroadhesion device 600to the target surface. To ensure the proper adjustable voltage isgenerated and applied to the electrodes 604 to generate a sufficientelectroadhesive force, a digital switch 616 may autonomously control thevoltage converter 608. The digital switch 616 may control the voltageoutput of the voltage converter 608 based on sensor data collected byone or more sensors 614 included in the electroadhesion device 600. Thedigital switch 616 may be a microcontroller or other integrated circuitincluding programmable logic for receiving sensor data, determining oneor more characteristics based on the sensor data, and controlling thevoltage converter based on the one or more characteristics. The digitalswitch 616 may operate the voltage converter 608 to generate, modify,set, and/or maintain an adjustable output voltage used to attach theelectroadhesion device 600 to a target surface.

For example, in response to detecting a conductive target surface (e.g.,metal) by the sensor 614, the digital switch 616 may cause the voltageconverter 608 to generate an adjustable voltage sufficient to attach andsecure the electroadhesion device 600 to the conductive target surface.The adjustable voltage output may also be safe to apply to conductivesurfaces and may eliminate sparks, fires, or other hazards that arecreated when an electroadhesion device 600 that is generating a highvoltage contacts and/or is placed close to a conductive target surface.Similarly, when the sensor 614 detects a different surface withdifferent characteristics, the digital switch 616 controls the voltageconverter 608 to generate a different adjustable voltage that issufficient to attach and secure the electroadhesion device 600 to thatdifferent surface. For example, in response to detecting an organictarget surface (e.g., wood, drywall, fabric, and the like) by the sensor614, the digital switch 616 may cause the voltage converter 608 togenerate an adjustable voltage that may be sufficient to attach andsecure the electroadhesion device to the organic target surface withoutcreating hazards. The adjustable voltage may also minimize the voltageoutput to avoid hazards that may be created when the electroadhesiondevice 600 is accidently moved. In response to detecting a smooth targetsurface (e.g., glass) or an insulating target surface (e.g., plastic,stone, sheetrock, ceramics, and the like) by the sensor 614, the digitalswitch 616 may cause the voltage converter 608 to generate an adjustablevoltage sufficient to attach and secure the electroadhesion device 600to the smooth and/or insulating target surface without creating hazards.Thus, the electroadhesion device 600 has an adjustable voltage levelthat is adjusted based on a characteristic of the target surfacedetermined by the sensor 614 resulting in an electroadhesion device 600that can be safely used to attach to various target surfaces withoutsafety hazards.

The strength (i.e., amount of voltage) of the adjustable voltage mayvary depending on the material of the target surface. For example, thestrength of the adjustable voltage required to attach theelectroadhesion device 600 to a conductive target surface (e.g., metal)may be less than the adjustable voltage required to attach theelectroadhesion device 600 to an insulating target surface, a smoothtarget surface, and/or an organic target surface. The strength of theadjustable voltage required to attach the electroadhesion device 600 toan organic target surface may be greater than the adjustable voltagerequired to attach the electroadhesion device 600 to a conductive targetsurface and less than the adjustable voltage require to attach theelectroadhesion device 600 to an insulating target surface. The strengthof the adjustable voltage required to attach the electroadhesion device600 to an insulating target surface may be higher than the adjustablevoltage required to attach the electroadhesion device 600 to an organictarget surface or a conductive target surface. The electroadhesiondevice 600 may be configured to attach to any type of surface (e.g.,metallic, organic, rough, smooth, undulating, insulating, conductive,and like). In embodiments, it may be preferable to attach theelectroadhesion device 100 to a smooth, flat surface.

Attaching the electroadhesion device 600 to some target surfacesrequires a very high voltage. For example, a very high voltage outputmay be required to attach the electroadhesion device 600 to a roughtarget surface, a very smooth target surface (e.g., glass), and/or aninsulating target surface. An electroadhesion device 600 generating ahigh voltage output may generate sparks, fires, electric shock, andother safety hazards when placed into contract with- and/or in closeproximity to-conductive surfaces. To avoid safety hazards, someembodiments of the electroadhesion device 600 may not generate a highvoltage and may only generate an output adjustable voltage sufficient toattach the electroadhesion device 600 to conductive target surfaces,organic target surfaces, and the like.

When the electroadhesion device 600 is moved to a new target surface,the sensor 614 may automatically detect one or more characteristics ofthe new target surface and/or determine the material type, surfacetexture, surface morphology, or other characteristic for the new targetsurface. The digital switch 616 may then modify and/or maintain theadjustable voltage output generated by the voltage converter 608 basedon the material type and/or characteristics for the new target surface.To determine the adjustable voltage to generate using the voltageconverter 608, the digital switch 616 may include logic for determiningthe adjustable voltage based on sensor data received from the sensor614. For example, the digital switch 616 may include logic for using alook up table to determine the proper adjustable voltage based on thesensor data. The logic incorporated into the digital switch 616 may alsoinclude one or more algorithms for calculating the proper adjustablevoltage based on the sensor data, Additionally, if the sensor 614detects the electroadhesion device 600 is moved away from a targetsurface, the digital switch 616 may power down the voltage converter 608and/or otherwise terminate the adjustable voltage output from thevoltage converter 608 until a new target surface is detected by thesensor 614.

The one or more sensors 614 can include a wide variety of sensors 614for measuring characteristics of the target surface. Each sensor 614 maybe operated by a sensor control circuit 618. The sensor control circuit618 may be included in the sensor 614 or may be a distinct component.The sensor control circuit 618 can be a microcontroller or otherintegrated circuit having programmable logic for controlling the sensor614. For example, the sensor control circuit 618 may initiate capture ofsensor data, cease capture of sensor data, set the sample rate for thesensor, control transmission of sensor data measured by the sensor 614,and the like. Sensors 614 can include conductivity sensors (e.g.,electrode conductivity sensors, induction conductivity, sensors, and thelike); Hall effect sensors and other magnetic field sensors; porositysensors (e.g., time domain reflectometry (TDR) porosity sensors); waveform sensors (e.g., ultrasound sensors, radar sensors, infrared sensors,dot field projection depth sensors, time of flight depth sensors);motion sensors; surface texture sensors; surface profile sensors,surface morphology sensors, and the like. Sensor data measured by theone or more sensors 614 may be used to determine one or morecharacteristics of the target surface. For example, sensor data may beused to determine the target surface's conductivity and other electricalor magnetic characteristics; the material's porosity, permeability, andsurface morphology; the materials hardness, smoothness, surface profile,and other surface characteristics; the distance the target surface isfrom the sensor; and the like. One or more characteristics determinedfrom sensor data may be used to control the digital switch 616 directly.Sensor data may also be sent to a data analysis module. The dataanalysis module may refine the sensor data and use it to determine acharacteristic and/or material type (e.g., metal, wood, plastic,ceramic, concreate, drywall, glass, stone and the like) for the targetsurface. The digital switch 616 may then control the voltage output fromthe voltage converter 608 based on the characteristic and/or materialtype for the target surface determined by the data analysis module.

The digital switch 616 may function as an essential safety feature ofthe electroadhesion device 100. The digital switch 616 may reduce therisk of sparks, fires, electric shock, and other safety hazards that mayresult from applying a high voltage to a conductive target surface. Byautonomously controlling the voltage generated by the electroadhesiondevice 600, the digital switch 616 may also minimize human error thatmay result when a user manually sets the voltage output of theelectroadhesion device 600. For example, human errors may include a userforgetting to change the voltage setting, a child playing with theelectroadhesion device and not paying attention to the voltage setting,a user mistaking a conductive surface for an insulating surface, and thelike. These errors may be eliminated by using digital switch 616 toautomatically adjust the voltage generated by the voltage converter 608based on sensor data received from the one or more sensors 614 and/ormaterial classifications made by the data analysis module.

As shown in FIG. 7A, to promote safely and improve user experience, theselfie camera 102 and or electroadhesion device 600 may include amechanism (e.g., button, mechanical switch, UI element, and the like)716 for actuating the sensor 614 and/or digital switch 616. The sensor614 and digital switch 616 may also be automatically turned on when theelectroadhesion device 600 and/or the selfie camera 102 is powered on.The electroadhesion device 600 and/or selfie camera 102 may also includea signaling mechanism (e.g., status light, UI element, mechanicalswitch, and the like) for communicating the status of the sensor 614and/or digital switch 616 to a user of the electroadhesion device 600.The signaling mechanism may be used to communicate that the properadjustable voltage for a particular target surface has been determined.

In various embodiments, the signaling mechanism may be a status lightthat is red when the sensor 614 and/or digital switch 616 is powered onand sensing the target surface material or other characteristics but hasnot determined the proper adjustable voltage for the target surface. Thestatus light may turn green when the digital switch 616 has received thesensor data, determined the appropriate adjustable voltage for theparticular target surface, and generated the proper adjustable voltageoutput and the electroadhesion device 600 is ready to attach to thetarget surface. The status light may also turn blinking red and/oryellow if there is some problem with determining the adjustable voltagefor the particular target surface and/or generating the adjustablevoltage output for the particular target surface. For example, thestatus light may blink red and/or turn yellow when the sensor 614 isunable to collect sensor data, the data analysis module is unable todetermine a material type or other characteristic for the target surfacematerial, the digital switch 616 is unable to operate the voltageconverter 608, the voltage converter 608 is unable to generate thecorrect adjustable voltage, and the like.

As described herein, voltage generated by the voltage converter 608 isdefined as a range of DC voltage of any one or more of the followingfrom 250 V to 10,000 V; from 500 V to 10,000 V; from 1,000 V to 10,000V; from 1,500 V to 10,000 V; from 2,000 V to 10,000 V; from 3,000 V to10,000 V; from 4,000 V to 10,000 V; from 5,000 V to 10,000 V; from 6,000V to 10,000 V; from 7,000 V to 10,000 V; from 250 V to 1,000 V; from 250V to 2,000 V; from 250 V to 4,000 V; from 500 V to 1,000 V; from 500 Vto 2,000 V; from 500 V to 4,000 V; from 1,000 V to 2,000 V; from 1,000 Vto 4,000 V; from 1,000 V to 6,000 V; from 2,000 V to 4,000 V; from 2,000V to 6,000 V; from 4,000 V to 6,000 V; from 4,000 V to 10,000 V; from6,000 V to 8,000 V; and from 8,000 V to 10,000 V.

As described herein, voltage generated by the voltage converter 608 isdefined as a range of AC voltage of any one or more of the followingfrom 250 V_(rms) to 10,000 V_(rms); from 500 V_(rms) to 10,000 V_(rms);from 1,000 V_(rms) to 10,000 V_(rms); from 1,500 V_(rms) to 10,000V_(rms); from 2,000 V_(rms) to 10,000 V_(rms); from 3,000 V_(rms) to10,000 V_(rms); from 4,000 V_(rms) to 10,000 V_(rms); from 5,000 V_(rms)to 10,000 V_(rms); from 6,000 V_(rms) to 8,000 V_(rms); from 7,000V_(rms) to 8,000 V_(rms); from 8,000 V_(rms) to 10,000 V_(rms); from9,000 V_(rms) to 10,000 V_(rms); from 250 V_(rms) to 1,000 V_(rms); from250 V_(rms) to 2,000 V_(rms); from 250 V_(m) to 4,000 V_(rms); from 500V_(rms) to 1,000 V_(rms); from 500 V_(rms) to 2,000 V_(rms); from 500V_(rms) to 4,000 V_(rms); from 1,000 V to 2,000 V_(rms); from 1,000V_(rms) to 4,000 V_(rms); from 1,000 V to 6,000 V_(rms); from 2,000V_(rms) to 4,000 V_(rms); from 2,000 V_(rms) to 6,000 V_(rms); from4,000 V_(rms) to 6,000 V_(rms); from 4,000 V_(rms) to 8,000 V_(rms); andfrom 6,000 V_(rms) to 8,000 V_(rms).

As described herein, voltage generated by the voltage converter 608 isdefined as a range of DC voltage of any one or more of the followingfrom about 250 V to about 10,000 V; from about 500 V to about 10,000 V;from about 1,000 V to about 10,000 V; from about 1,500 V to about 10,000V; from about 2,000 V to about 10,000 V; from about 3,000 V to about10,000 V; from about 4,000 V to about 10,000 V; from about 5,000 V toabout 10,000 V; from about 6,000 V to about 8,000 V; from about 7,000 Vto about 8,000 V; from about 250 V to about 1,000 V; from about 250 V toabout 2,000 V; from about 250 V to about 4,000 V; from about 500 V toabout 1,000 V; from about 500 V to about 2,000 V; from about 500 V toabout 4,000 V; from about 1,000 V to about 2,000 V; from about 1,000 Vto about 4,000 V; from about 1,000 V to about 6,000 V; from about 2,000V to about 4,000 V; from about 2,000 V to about 6,000 V; from about4,000 V to about 6,000 V; from about 4,000 V to about 8,000 V; fromabout 6,000 V to about 8,000 V; from about 8,000 V to about 10,000 V;and from about 9,000 V to about 10,000 V.

As described herein, voltage generated by the voltage converter 608 isdefined as a range of AC voltage of any one or more of the followingfrom about 250 V_(rms) to about 10,000 V_(rms); from about 500 V_(rms)to about 10,000 V_(rms); from about 1,000 V_(rms) to about 10,000V_(rms); from about 1,500 V_(rms) about 10,000 V_(rms); from about 2,000V_(rms) to about 10,000 V_(rms); from about 3,000 V_(rms) to about10,000 V_(rms); from about 4,000 V_(rms) to about 10,000 V_(rms); fromabout 5,000 V_(rms) to about 10,000 V_(rms); from about 6,000 V_(rms) toabout 8,000 V_(rms); from about 7,000 V_(rms) to about 8,000 V_(rms);from about 250 V_(rms) to about 1,000 V_(rms); from about 250 V_(rms) toabout 2,000 V_(rms); from about 250 V_(rms) to about 4,000 V_(rms); fromabout 500 V_(rms) to about 1,000 V_(rms); from about 500 V_(rms) toabout 2,000 V_(rms); from about 500 V_(rms) to about 4,000 V_(rms); fromabout 1,000 V_(rms) to about 2,000 V_(rms); from about 1,000 V_(rms) toabout 4,000 V_(rms); from about 1,000 V_(rms) to about 6,000 V_(rms);from about 2,000 V_(rms) to about 4,000 V_(rms); from about 2,000V_(rms) to about 6,000 V_(rms); from about 4,000 V_(rms) to about 6,000V_(rms); from about 4,000 V_(rms) to about 8,000 V_(rms); from about6,000 V_(rms) to about 8,000 V_(rms); from about 8,000 V_(rms) to about10,000 V_(rms); and from about 9,000 V_(rms) to about 10,000 V_(rms).

As described herein, voltage output from the power supply 612 is definedas a range of DC voltage of any one or more of the following from 2.0 Vto 249.99 V; from 2.0 V to 150.0 V; from 2.0 V to 100.0 V; from 2.0 V to50.0 V; from 5.0 V to 249.99 V; from 5.0 V to 150.0 V; from 5.0 V to100.0 V; from 5.0 V to 50.0 V; from 50.0 V to 150.0 V; from 100.0 V to249.99 V; from 100.0 V to 130.0 V; and from 10.0 V and 30.0 V.

As described herein, voltage output from the power supply 612 is definedas a range of AC voltage of any one or more of the following from 2.0V_(rms) to 249.99 V_(rms); from 2.0 V_(rms) to 150.0 V_(rms); from 2.0V_(rms) to 100.0 V_(rms); from 2.0 V_(rms) to 50.0 V_(rms); from 5.0V_(rms) to 249.99 V_(rms); from 5.0 V_(rms) to 150.0 V_(rms); from 5.0V_(rms) to 100.0 V_(rms); from 5.0 V_(rms) to 50.0 V_(rms); from 50.0V_(rms) to 150.0V_(rms); from 100.0 V_(rms) to 249.99 V_(rms); from100.0 V_(rms) to 130.0 V_(rms); and from 10.0 V_(rms) and 30.0 V_(rms).

As described herein, voltage output from the power supply 612 is definedas a range of DC voltage of any one or more of the following from about2.0 V to about 249.99 V; from about 2.0 V to about 150.0 V; from about2.0 V to about 100.0 V; from about 2.0 V to about 50.0 V; from about 5.0V to about 249.99 V; from about 5.0 V to about 150.0 V; from about 5.0 Vto about 100.0 V; from about 5.0 V to about 50.0 V; from about 50.0 V toabout 150.0 V; from about 100.0 V to about 249.99 V; from about 100.0 Vto about 130.0 V; and from about 10.0 V and 30.0 V.

As described herein, voltage output from the power supply 612 is definedas a range of AC voltage of any one or more of the following from about2.0 V_(rms) to about 249.99 V_(rms); from about 2.0 V_(rms) to about150.0 V_(rms); from about 2.0 V_(rms) to about 100.0 V_(rms); from about2.0 V to about 50.0 V_(rms); from about 5.0 V_(rms) to about 249.99V_(rms); from about 5.0 V_(rms) to about 150.0 V_(rms); from about 5.0V_(rms) to about 100.0 V_(rms); from about 5.0 V_(rms) to about 50.0V_(rms); from about 50.0 V_(rms) to about 150.0 V_(rms); from about100.0 V_(rms) to about 249.99 V_(rms); from about 100.0 V_(rms) to about130.0 V_(rms); and from about 10.0 V_(rms) and 30.0 V_(rms).

FIGS. 7A-B illustrate a selfie camera 102 having an electroadhesiondevice 600 mounting system. In various embodiments, the electroadhesiondevice 600 may be used to mount the selfie camera to the target surface714 of any foreign object 712 including walls, mirrors, trees,furniture, and the like. FIG. 7A illustrates a back surface 700 of aselfie camera 102 having an electroadhesion device 600, for example, acompliant electroadhesive film fixed to the back surface 700. FIG. 7Billustrates a side view of a selfie camera 102 mounted to a foreignobject 710 using the electroadhesion device 600. The electroadhesiondevice 600 may include one or more sensors 614 for measuring one or morecharacteristics of the foreign object 710.

To attach the selfie camera 102 to the foreign object 710, the one ormore sensors 614 determine a characteristic of the foreign object 710.Based on the sensor data, the electroadhesion device 600 applies anadjustable voltage to one or more electrodes 604, the adjustable voltageinduces a local electric field 720 around the one or more electrodes 604wherein opposite charges from the inner portion 712 of the foreignobject 710 build up around the surface of the electrodes 604. Thebuild-up of opposing charges creates an electroadhesive force betweenthe electroadhesion device 600 attached to the selfie camera 102 and theforeign object 710. The electroadhesive force is sufficient to fix theselfie camera 102 to the target surface 714 of the foreign object 710while the adjustable voltage is applied. It should be understood thatthe electroadhesion device 600 does not have to be in direct contentwith the target surface 714 of the foreign object 710 to produce theelectroadhesive force. Instead, the target surface 714 of the foreignobject 710 must be proximate to the electroadhesion device 600 tointeract with the adjustable voltage on the one or more electrodes 604.The electroadhesion device 600 may, therefore, secure the selfie camera102 to smooth, even surfaces as well as rough, uneven surfaces.Additionally, the portion of the electroadhesion device 600 includingthe one or more electrodes 604 may be curved, flat, and or have anadjustable surface to facilitate better contact with the target surface714.

FIGS. 8A-D illustrate mechanical mounting systems that may be used withthe selfie camera. Mechanical mounting systems that may secure theselfie camera 102 to one or more foreign objects include suction cups,mini suction cups, disposable sticky pads, magnets, and the like.Mechanical and/or electroadhesion mounting systems may be removablyattached and/or permanently fixed to the selfie camera 102 using one ormore hooks 800 included in a rear surface of the selfie camera 102.FIGS. 8B-D illustrate an exemplary suction cup mounting system includinga suction cup 810 and a mounting plate 812 for securing the suction cup810 to the selfie camera 102. The mounting plate may also include apivot for changing the position (i.e., orientation, direction,perspective, and the like) of the selfie camera 102. In variousembodiments the position of the selfie camera 102 may be changed whenthe selfie camera 102 is mounted to a foreign object my moving theselfie camera 102 about the pivot 814. FIG. 8B illustrates a perspectiveview of an exemplary suction cup 810 mounting system fixed to a selfiecamera 102 using a mounting plate 812. FIG. 8C illustrates a flat topview of an exemplary suction cup 810 mounting system fixed to a selfiecamera 102 using a mounting plate 812 having a pivot 814 at the base ofthe suction cup 810. FIG. 8D illustrates a flat front view of anexemplary suction cup 810 mounting system fixed to a selfie camera usinga mounting plate 812.

FIG. 9 illustrates and exemplary process 900 for capturing and sharing aselfie image using the selfie camera system shown in FIG. 1. At step902, a selfie camera connects to a user device to establish acommunication pathway for transferring messages and data. Once aconnection is established, a selfie image preview may be provided to auser device, in step 904. The selfie image preview may be a live videostream of a scene as viewed by the selfie camera device. One or moreaspects to the selfie image preview may be modified to simulate theappearance so selfie content on a social media and/or video streamingplatform. At step 906, a selfie camera receives a capture command from aconnected user device and captures a selfie image. The captured selfieimage is sent to the connected user device using the connection pathway.At decision point 908, the quality of the selfie image is evaluated byviewing the preview of the selfie image provided by the selfie camera.If the selfie image shown in the preview is acceptable, the selfie imagemay be saved on a user device and/or shared on a social media platformby connecting to a social media platform using the user device andtransferring the selfie image to the social media platform, at step 910.In various embodiments, the selfie generator providing the selfie imagepreview may automatically connect to a social media platform when aconnection is established with the selfie camera device. Once the selfiegenerator is connected to a social media platform, selfie image previewsmay be shared on a social media platform directly from a selfie imagepreview GUI. If a selfie image shown in a selfie image preview is notacceptable, a selfie image may be discarded. To expediting retaking aselfie image, discarding a selfie image may automatically restarts theselfie capture process by generating a live selfie image preview, atstep 904. Steps 904 through 908 may be repeated as many times asnecessary to generate an acceptable selfie image.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary process 1000 for live streaming selfiecontent. At step 1002, a selfie camera connects to a user device toestablish a communication pathway for transferring messages and data.Once a connection is established, a selfie video preview may be providedto a user device, in step 1004. The video image preview may be a livevideo stream of a scene as viewed by the selfie camera device. One ormore aspects to the selfie video preview may be modified to simulate theappearance of selfie content on a social media and/or video streamingplatform. At step 906, a selfie camera receives a live stream commandfrom a connected user device and connects to a social media and/orstreaming video platform. The selfie camera may provide streamed videocontent to a connected user device in step 1008 and simultaneously sharestreamed video on a video streaming platform at step 1010.

FIG. 11 shows a user device 1100, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The illustrative user device 1100 may include amemory interface 1102, one or more data processors, image processors,central processing units 1104, and/or secure processing units 1105, anda peripherals interface 1106. The memory interface 1102, the one or moreprocessors 1104 and/or secure processors 1105, and/or the peripheralsinterface 1106 may be separate components or may be integrated into oneor more integrated circuits. The various components in the user device1100 may be coupled by one or more communication buses or signal lines.

Sensors, devices, and subsystems may be coupled to the peripheralsinterface 1106 to facilitate multiple functionalities. For example, amotion sensor 1110, a light sensor 1112, and a proximity sensor 1114 maybe coupled to the peripherals interface 1106 to facilitate orientation,lighting, and proximity functions. Other sensors 1116 may also beconnected to the peripherals interface 1106, such as a global navigationsatellite system (GNSS) (e.g., GPS receiver), a temperature sensor, abiometric sensor, depth sensor, magnetometer, or another sensing device,to facilitate related functionalities.

A camera subsystem 1120 and an optical sensor 1122, e.g., a chargedcoupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)optical sensor, may be utilized to facilitate camera functions, such asrecording photographs and video clips. The camera subsystem 1120 and theoptical sensor 1122 may be used to collect images of a user to be usedduring authentication of a user, e.g., by performing facial recognitionanalysis.

Communication functions may be facilitated through one or more wiredand/or wireless communication subsystems 1124, which can include radiofrequency receivers and transmitters and/or optical (e.g., infrared)receivers and transmitters. For example, the Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetoothlow energy (BTLE)) and/or Wifi communications described herein may behandled by wireless communication subsystems 1124. The specific designand implementation of the communication subsystems 1124 may depend onthe communication network(s) over which the user device 1100 is intendedto operate. For example, the user device 1100 may include communicationsubsystems 1124 designed to operate over a GSM network, a GPRS network,an EDGE network, a WiFi or WiMax network, and a Bluetooth™ network. Forexample, the wireless communication subsystems 1124 may include hostingprotocols such that the device 1100 can be configured as a base stationfor other wireless devices and/or to provide a WiFi service.

An audio subsystem 1126 may be coupled to a speaker 1128 and amicrophone 1130 to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as speakerrecognition, voice replication, digital recording, and telephonyfunctions. The audio subsystem 1126 may be configured to facilitateprocessing voice commands, voiceprinting, and voice authentication, forexample.

The I/O subsystem 1140 may include a touch-surface controller 1142and/or another input controller(s) 1144. The touch-surface controller1142 may be coupled to a touch surface 1146. The touch surface 1146 andtouch-surface controller 1142 may, for example, detect contact andmovement or break thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensitivitytechnologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive,infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as otherproximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or morepoints of contact with the touch surface 1146.

The other input controller(s) 1144 may be coupled to other input/controldevices 1148, such as one or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb-wheel,infrared port, USB port, and/or a pointer device such as a stylus. Theone or more buttons (not shown) may include an up/down button for volumecontrol of the speaker 1128 and/or the microphone 1130.

In some implementations, a pressing of the button for a first durationmay disengage a lock of the touch surface 1146; and a pressing of thebutton for a second duration that is longer than the first duration mayturn power to the user device 1100 on or off, Pressing the button for athird duration may activate a voice control, or voice command, a modulethat enables the user to speak commands into the microphone 1130 tocause the device to execute the spoken command. The user may customize afunctionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch surface 1146 can,for example, also be used to implement virtual or soft buttons and/or akeyboard.

In some implementations, the user device 1100 may present recorded audioand/or video files, such as MP3, AAC, and MPEG files. In someimplementations, the user device 1100 may include the functionality ofan MP3 player, such as an iPod™. The user device 1100 may, therefore,include a 36-pin connector and/or 8-pin connector that is compatiblewith the iPod. Other input/output and control devices may also be used.

The memory interface 1102 may be coupled to memory 1150. The memory 1150may include high-speed random access memory and/or non-volatile memory,such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more opticalstorage devices, and/or flash memory (e.g., NAND, NOR). The memory 1150may store an operating system 1152, such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX,OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks.

The operating system 1152 may include instructions for handling basicsystem services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In someimplementations, the operating system 1152 may be a kernel (e.g., UNIXkernel). In some implementations, the operating system 1152 may includeinstructions for performing voice authentication.

The memory 1150 may also store communication instructions 1154 tofacilitate communicating with one or more additional devices, one ormore computers and/or one or more servers. The memory 1150 may includegraphical user interface (GUI) instructions 1156 to facilitate graphicuser interface processing; sensor processing instructions 1158 tofacilitate sensor-related processing and functions; phone instructions1160 to facilitate phone-related processes and functions; electronicmessaging instructions 1162 to facilitate electronic-messaging relatedprocesses and functions; web browsing instructions 1164 to facilitateweb browsing-related processes and functions; media processinginstructions 1166 to facilitate media processing-related processes andfunctions; GNSS/Navigation instructions 1168 to facilitate GNSS andnavigation-related processes and instructions; and/or camerainstructions 1170 to facilitate camera-related processes and functions.

The memory 1150 may store application instructions and data 1172 forrecognizing GUIs displaying content on a specific social media and/orvideo streaming platform; capturing characteristics of content displayedin relevant GUIs; generating selfie content previews using capturedcharacteristics; sending selfie content to a server device;communicating with a selfie camera; and editing captured selfie content.In various implementations, application data may include social mediaand/or video streaming platform content characteristics, selfie cameracontrol commands, instructions for sharing selfie content, and otherinformation used or generated by other applications persisted on a userdevice.

The memory 1150 may also store other software instructions 1174, such asweb video instructions to facilitate web video-related processes andfunctions; and/or web instructions to facilitate content sharing-relatedprocesses and functions. In some implementations, the media processinginstructions 1166 may be divided into audio processing instructions andvideo processing instructions to facilitate audio processing-relatedprocesses and functions and video processing-related processes andfunctions, respectively.

Each of the above-identified instructions and applications maycorrespond to a set of instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed herein. These instructions need not be implemented as separatesoftware programs, procedures, or modules. The memory 1150 may includeadditional instructions or fewer instructions. Furthermore, variousfunctions of the user device 1100 may be implemented in hardware and/orin software, including in one or more signal processing and/orapplication specific integrated circuits.

In some embodiments, processor 1104 may perform processing includingexecuting instructions stored in memory 1150, and secure processor 1105may perform some processing in a secure environment that may beinaccessible to other components of user device 1100. For example,secure processor 1105 may include cryptographic algorithms on board,hardware encryption, and physical tamper proofing. Secure processor 1105may be manufactured in secure facilities. Secure processor 1105 mayencrypt data/challenges from external devices. Secure processor 1105 mayencrypt entire data packages that may be sent from user device 1100 tothe network. Secure processor 1105 may separate a valid user/externaldevice from a spoofed One, since a hacked or spoofed device may not havethe private keys necessary to encrypt/decrypt, hash, or digitally signdata, as described herein.

FIG. 12 shows an illustrative computer 1200 that may implement thearchiving system and various features and processes as described herein.The computer 1200 may be any electronic device that runs softwareapplications derived from compiled instructions, including withoutlimitation personal computers, servers, smart phones, media players,electronic tablets, game consoles, email devices, etc. In someimplementations, the computer 1200 may include one or more processors1202, volatile memory 1204, non-volatile memory 1206, and one or moreperipherals 1208. These components may be interconnected by one or morecomputer buses 1210.

Processor(s) 1202 may use any known processor technology, including butnot limited to graphics processors and multi-core processors. Suitableprocessors for the execution of a program of instructions may include,by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andthe sole processor or one of multiple processors or cores, of any kindof computer. Bus 1210 may be any known internal or external bustechnology, including but not limited to ISA, EISA, PCI, PCI Express,NuBus, USB, Serial ATA or FireWire. Volatile memory 1204 may include,for example, SDRAM. Processor 1202 may receive instructions and datafrom a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essentialelements of a computer may include a processor for executinginstructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data.

Non-volatile memory 1206 may include, by way of example, semiconductormemory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices;magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks;magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

Non-volatile memory 1206 may store various computer instructionsincluding operating system instructions 1212, communication instructions1214, application instructions 1216, and application data 1217.Operating system instructions 1212 may include instructions forimplementing an operating system (e.g., Mac OS®, Windows®, or Linux).

The operating system may be multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking,multithreading, real-time, and the like. Communication instructions 1214may include network communications instructions, for example, softwarefor implementing communication protocols, such as TCP-′IP, HTTP,Ethernet, telephony, etc. Application instructions 1216 can includesocial media and/or video streaming platform content characteristics,selfie camera control commands, instructions for sharing selfie content,and other information used or generated by other applications persistedon a user device. For example, application instructions 1216 may includeinstructions for modifying settle content previews, editing capturedselfie content, and/or capturing and sharing selfie content using thesystem shown in FIG. 1. Application data 1217 may correspond to datastored by the applications running on the computer 1200. For example,application data 1217 may include selfie content, commands forcontrolling a selfie camera, image data received from a selfie camera,content characteristics retrieved from a social media and/or contentvideo streaming platform, and/or instructions for sharing selfiecontent.

Peripherals 1208 may be included within the computer 1200 or operativelycoupled to communicate with the computer 1200. Peripherals 1208 mayinclude, for example, network interfaces 1218, input devices 1220, andstorage devices 1222. Network interfaces 1218 may include, for example,an Ethernet or WiFi adapter for communicating over one or more wired orwireless networks. Input devices 1220 may be any known input devicetechnology, including but not limited to a keyboard (including a virtualkeyboard), mouse, trackball, and touch-sensitive pad or display. Storagedevices 1222 may include one or more mass storage devices for storingdata files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal harddisks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks.

As shown in FIG. 13, the camera device 1300 includes one or more imagesensors 1304 fitted with one lens 1302 per sensor. The lens 1302 andimage sensor 1304 can capture images or video content. Each imagesensors 1304 and lens 1302 may have associated parameters, such as thesensor size, resolution, and interocular distance, the lens focallengths, lens distortion centers, lens skew coefficient, and lensdistortion coefficients. The parameters of each image sensor and lensmay be unique for each image sensor or lens, and are often determinedthrough a stereoscopic camera calibration process. The camera device1300 can further include a processor 1306 for executing commands andinstructions to provide communications, capture, data transfer, andother functions of the camera device as well as memory 1308 for storingdigital data and streaming video. For example, the storage device canbe, e.g., a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD) or a magneticstorage device. The camera device may include a communications interface1310 for communicating with external devices. For example, thestereoscopic device can include a wireless communications module forconnecting to an external device (e.g., a laptop, an external harddrive, a tablet, a smart phone) for transmitting the data and/ormessages to the external device. The camera device 1300 may also includean audio component 1312 (e.g., a microphone or other known audio sensor)for capturing audio content. A bus 1314, for example, a high-bandwidthbus, such as an Advanced High-performance Bus (AHB) matrix interconnectsthe electrical components of the camera device 1300.

FIG. 14 show more details of the processor 1306 of the camera deviceshown in FIG. 13. A video processor controls a camera 1412 (e.g., aselfie camera) using a camera control circuit 1410 according to commandsreceived from a selfie camera controller. A power management integratedcircuit (PMIC) 1420 is responsible for controlling a battery chargingcircuit 1422 to charge a battery 1424. The battery 1424 supplieselectrical energy for running the camera device 1300. The PMIC 1420 mayalso control a electro adhesion control circuit 1490 that supplies powerto an electroadhesion device 600. The processor 1306 can be connected toan external device via a USB controller 1426. In some embodiments, thebattery charging circuit 1422 receives external electrical energy viathe USB controller 1426 for charging the battery 1424.

The camera device 1300 may include a volatile memory 1430 (e.g., doubledata rate memory or 4R memory) and a non-volatile memory 1432 (e.g.,embedded MMC or eMMC, solid-state drive or SSD, etc.). The processor1306 can also control an audio codec circuit 1440, which collects audiosignals from microphone 1312 and microphone 1312 for stereo soundrecording. The camera device 1300 can include additional components tocommunicate with external devices. For example, the processor 1306 canbe connected to a video interface 1350 (e.g., Wifi connection, UDPinterface, TCP link, high-definition multimedia interface or HDMI, andthe like) for sending video signals to an external device. The cameradevice 1300 can further include an interface conforming to Joint TestAction Group (JTAG) standard and Universal AsynchronousReceiver/Transmitter (UART) standard. The camera device 1300 can includea slide switch 1460 and a push button 1462 for operating the cameradevice 1300. For example, a user may turn on or off the camera device1300 by pressing the push button 1462. The user may switch on or off theelectroadhesion device 600 using the slide switch 1460. The cameradevice 1300 can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 1470 fordetecting orientation and/or motion of the camera device 1300. Theprocessor 1310 can further control a light control circuit 1480 forcontrolling the status lights 1482. The status lights 1482 can include,e.g., multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in different colors forshowing various status of the camera device 1300.

The foregoing description is intended to convey a thorough understandingof the embodiments described by providing a number of specific exemplaryembodiments and details involving previewing, capturing, editing, andsharing pieces of content to improve the efficiency of capturing selfiecontent and the quality of captured selfie content. It should beappreciated, however, that the present disclosure is not limited tothese specific embodiments and details, which are examples only. It isfurther understood that one possessing ordinary skill in the art, inlight of known systems and methods, would appreciate the use of theinvention for its intended purposes and benefits in any number ofalternative embodiments, depending on specific design and other needs. Auser device and server device are used as examples for the disclosure.The disclosure is not intended to be limited GUI display screens, imagecapture systems, data extraction processors, and client devices only.For example, many other electronic devices may utilize a system topreview, capture, and share piece of content including selfie images andvideos.

Methods described herein may represent processing that occurs within asystem (e.g., system 100 of FIG. 1). The subject matter described hereincan be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computersoftware, firmware, or hardware, including the structural meansdisclosed in this specification and structural equivalents thereof, orin combinations of them. The subject matter described herein can beimplemented as one or more computer program products, such as one ormore computer programs tangibly embodied in an information carrier(e.g., in a machine-readable storage device), or embodied in apropagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of,data processing apparatus (e.g., a programmable processor, a computer,or multiple computers). A computer program (also known as a program,software, software application, or code) can be written in any form ofprogramming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, andit can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or asa module, component, subroutine, or another unit suitable for use in acomputing environment. A computer program does not necessarilycorrespond to a file. A program can be stored in a portion of a filethat holds other programs or data, in a single file dedicated to theprogram in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files thatstore one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). Acomputer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or onmultiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification, includingthe method steps of the subject matter described herein, can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform functions of the subject matter describedherein by operating on input data and generating output. The processesand logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus of the subjectmatter described herein can be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC(application specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processor of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for executing instructions and one or more Memory devicesfor storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will alsoinclude, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer datato, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carrierssuitable for embodying computer program instructions and data includeall forms of nonvolatile memory, including, by ways of example,semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, flash memorydevice, or magnetic disks. The processor and the memory can besupplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

It is to be understood that the disclosed subject matter is not limitedin its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The disclosed subject matter is capable ofother embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in variousways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily beutilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, andsystems for carrying out the several purposes of the disclosed subjectmatter. Therefore, the claims should be regarded as including suchequivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spiritand scope of the disclosed subject matter.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the terms “and/or” and “at least one of” include any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Certain details are set forth in the foregoing description and in FIGS.1-14 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of thepresent invention. Other details describing well-known structures andsystems often associated with image processing, camera systems, userdevices, and server devices, etc., however, are not set forth below toavoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodimentsof the present invention.

Although the disclosed subject matter has been described and illustratedin the foregoing exemplary embodiments, it is understood that thepresent disclosure has been made only by way of example, and thatnumerous changes in the details of implementation of the disclosedsubject matter may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the disclosed subject matter.

1. A device comprising: a flat substrate; and a film on a first side ofthe flat substrate, the film having two electrodes and an insulatingmaterial between the two electrodes, wherein the insulating materialincluding a chemical adhesive applied to a first side of the insulatingmaterial; a conduit to conduct power to the at last one electrode from apower supply; a sensor integrated into the electroadhesion device, thesensor configured to collect sensor data regarding a material type ofmaterial that contacts the two electrodes; a sensor control circuit incommunication with the sensor, the sensor control circuit configured todetermine the material type that contacts the two electrodes, based onthe sensor data; and a digital switch in communication with the sensorand sensor control circuit, the digital switch configured to control avoltage output of the two electrodes based on data from the sensorcontrol circuit, wherein the electrodes generate an electroadhesiveforce that secures the flat substrate and electrodes to the material. 2.The device of claim 1 further comprising, a camera integrated into theflat substrate, the camera including; an image sensor; a computingprocessor and memory in communication with the image sensor to sendcommands to the image sensor to capture digital image data; and acommunication antenna in communication with the computing processor andmemory, the communication antenna configured to send the captureddigital image data to a mobile device for display.
 3. The device ofclaim 2 wherein the sent captured digital image data is a video stream.4. The device of claim 2 wherein the sent captured digital image data isa static image.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the digital switchcontrol of the voltage output of the two electrodes is based on datafrom the sensor control circuit of the material type.
 6. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the insulation material includes several layers ofdifferent insulation.
 7. The device of claim 1 further comprising avoltage converter in communication with the power supply and the powerconduit, the voltage converter configured to convert low voltage to highvoltage for the two electrodes.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein thevoltage converter is adjustable by signals from the sensor controlcircuit.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the digital switch is capableof on/off response times of less than about 50 milliseconds.